Judge denies Troy Davis innocence claim

A federal judge has ruled Georgia death row inmate Troy Anthony Davis failed to prove his innocence after Davis was granted a rare hearing by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Tuesday’s ruling against Davis sets the stage for Georgia officials to move forward with executing him for the 1989 shooting death of Mark MacPhail, an off-duty Savannah police officer.

In June, U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. heard two days of testimony from witnesses in Savannah seeking to cast doubt on Davis’ conviction. The Supreme Court ordered the hearing for Davis a year ago.

Davis has been spared from execution three times as his attorneys pushed their argument that new evidence showed police ignored MacPhail’s real killer as they rushed to pin the shooting on Davis.

Get extended coverage on the Troy Davis case including photos, video and more at savannahnow.com/troydavis.

Read more here at savannhanow.com as the story develops and pick up Wednesday’s Savannah Morning News for complete coverage.